Foreign Minister Kotzias’ message on 9 May, Europe Day

Today marks the passing of 65 years since Robert Schuman’s historic
Declaration, which laid the cornerstone of the European edifice.

With
the scars of the destruction of World War II still fresh throughout
Europe, the vision of the pioneers of the European idea brought
countries divided by centuries of conflict to the table of understanding
and cooperation. Despite the difficulties encountered from time to
time, the cooperation of the member states gradually grew in strength on
an institutional and political level, in parallel with the successive
enlargements that widened the Union’s embrace to include the greater
part of the continent’s population.

The current state of affairs
renders it imperative that we bear in mind Europe’s role – and Greece’s
role in Europe – within a world being shaken by economic instability and
major geopolitical challenges. Greece’s experience of the crisis in the
Eurozone – a crisis that impacted millions of Europeans’ standard of
living – was particularly harsh. However, it is moving ahead with
responsibility and dignity in the negotiations with the European
institutions to find a mutually beneficial solution that ensures an exit
from the economic crisis and a better future for its citizens.

Greece
is developing a multifaceted and proactive foreign policy, with total
dedication to international law, contributing substantially both to the
confronting of the very acute crises being faced by the European Union
and the world, and to the strengthening of regional stability.

Greece
also remains firmly dedicated to the European framework – the
foundation of which is dialogue, deliberation and honest compromise – as
well as to the common European values of institutional equality,
dignity, democracy and social justice.

Greece’s active
participation in the dialogue for the enhancement and deepening of the
European Union is a guarantee of a better and more just future for Greek
and European citizens, in a Europe of peace, stability, prosperity and
humanity.